Windstar Cruises Announces Name of First Power Yacht as “Star Pride”

Windstar Cruises, a market leader in small ship cruising, has announced the name for the first of its three new, all-suite, power yachts as Star Pride. Star Pride, launching in May of 2014, will spend its first season in Europe offering exciting new voyages which open for bookings on May 14, 2013. The names of the additional two yachts will be announced in the coming weeks.

“Star Pride and the additional two yachts will fit perfectly into Windstar’s intimate, yacht-style cruising by offering a small-ship luxury cruise with 300 passengers or less in a casually elegant style going to places bigger ships cannot go,” said Hans Birkholz, Windstar Cruises’ chief executive officer. “We are thrilled to now be able to offer even more intriguing choices in Europe for the 2014 season.”

The addition of the three new yachts is part of Global Windstar, the line’s fleet expansion and new product development initiative. Increasing the size of the fleet enables Windstar to cruise a global set of itineraries to new destinations, such as Wind Spirit’s much anticipated return to Tahiti and Star Pride’s European voyage collection which will include new places in Europe such as a voyage in the Black Sea, to be announced in May. In the future, Global Windstar will provide opportunities to visit Asia and South America.

The new power yachts are identical, with a guest capacity of 212 each in 106 suites. At 10,000 gross tons, each yacht is 440 feet long with a breadth of 63 feet and six passenger decks. As the three yachts enter the fleet, they will all undergo a Windstar branded renovation. The new power yachts will showcase many signature Windstar experiences, including the line’s famous deck barbecue, the open Bridge policy, and the celebrated sail-away party.

Earlier this year, Windstar Cruises announced its owner, Xanterra Parks & Resorts®, reached an agreement to purchase the three power yachts. The expansion doubles the size of Windstar’s fleet, making the company the market leader in small-ship cruising with 300 or fewer passengers, with a total of 1,230 berths.
Following the May 2014 introduction of Star Pride, Windstar Cruises will take possession of the additional two yachts in in April and May 2015. These two yachts are scheduled to start sailing in May of 2015 following their dry-dock period.